Acta Vet. Brno 2007, 76: 541-546

https://doi.org/10.2754/avb200776040541

Coagulation Tests and Selected Biochemical Analytes in Dairy Cows with Hepatic Lipidosis

S. Padilla-Arellanes1, F. Constantino-Casas1, L. Núnez-Ochoa1, J. Doubek2, C. Vega-Murguia3, J. Bouda1

1Departmento de Patología, Sección de Patología Clínica, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México
2University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Brno, Czech Republic
3Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Ciudad de México, México

Received January 30, 2007
Accepted October 2, 2007

The aim of this study was to determine the values and changes in conventional and optimised clotting tests, as well as in selected biochemical analytes during hepatic lipidosis in postpartum dairy cows. Ten healthy and ten Holstein cows with hepatic lipidosis were selected based upon clinical history, clinical examination, liver biopsy, flotation test and histological analysis of hepatic tissue. Prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) were determined in non-diluted and diluted blood plasma samples. Clotting times determined in diluted plasma samples were prolonged in cows with hepatic lipidosis and there was a difference in the PT value at both 50% and 25% plasma dilutions between both groups of animals (P = 0.004 and P = 0.001). Significant differences between healthy animals and cows with hepatic lipidosis were observed in blood serum values for free fatty acids (FFA), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and triacyglycerols (P = 0.001, P = 0.007 and P = 0.044), respectively. FFA and liver biopsy are better diagnostic indicators for hepatic lipidosis than coagulation tests. The optimised PT is prolonged in cows with hepatic lipidosis and can detect this alteration that cannot be appreciated using conventional PT test.